News Release

Saturday, November 16, 2002

Officer-Involved Shooting Occurs After Suspect Rams His Vehicle at Officers

"Officer-Involved Shooting Occurs After Suspect Rams His Vehicle at Officers"

Los Angeles: On November 15, 2002 at approximately 7:04 p.m., Los Angeles Police Department Officers Kimberly De Losh (Serial No. 32745, 32 years-old, five years with the Department) and James McCarthy (Serial No. 33999, 29 years-old, five years with the Department), both assigned to Harbor Area, were on patrol in the 1500 block of Gamble Avenue when they observed a Chevrolet pick-up truck with Arizona license plates stopped in the roadway. The lone vehicle occupant, a male Caucasian driver, appeared to be conducting some sort of narcotics transaction with an unidentified male Black, who was standing adjacent to the driver’s vehicle door. As the officers approached the vehicle, the male on foot turned away and walked toward the nearby residences. The driver in the pick-up truck accelerated his vehicle north on Gamble Avenue. The officers followed the truck and then attempted to stop the vehicle to investigate why the driver was stopped in the roadway. The officers activated the police vehicle’s overhead emergency lights in an attempt to stop the truck, which was now traveling southbound on Drum Avenue. Approaching Pacific Coast Highway, the officers activated their vehicle siren. The driver of the truck decided to engage the officers in a pursuit. He accelerated and drove the vehicle onto Pacific Coast Highway, failing to stop for a posted stop sign. The officers, notified communications that they were in pursuit. The pursuit was brief and ended after the suspect drove the truck westbound into the cul-de-sac of the 900 block of Robidoux Street, where he was forced to stop.

Both officers exited the police vehicle and positioned themselves behind their respective opened vehicle doors. The suspect was ordered to stop and raise his hands but refused to comply with the orders of the officers. Instead, he chose to accelerate the truck in reverse, striking the front of the police car. Both officers were in fear for their lives and an officer-involved shooting occurred. This had no apparent effect on the suspect, as he continued to assault the officers by repeatedly ramming their police vehicle with the truck. Fearful for their lives, both officers continued to fire at the suspect, who was eventually wounded.

The investigation into this incident is on going and is being conducted by the Department’s Critical Incident Investigation and Robbery-Homicide Divisions. Investigators assigned to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office are also conducting a concurrent investigation. Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to call Critical Incident Investigation Division at 213-485-6475 during normal business hours. After hours, call the 24-hour toll free number at the Detective Information Desk, 1-877-LAWFULL (1-877-529-3855).